Art exhibit based on a migrant tragedy stirs unease in Austria

Nickelsdorf, Austria

WHEN darkness descends on this farming village on the border with Hungary, the only lights left shining are often at the Jazzgalerie Nickelsdorf.

Hans Falb, the owner of the cafe, has attracted music lovers to his place on the winding main street since it opened in 1976. Each summer, he is the host of the Konfrontationen Festival, which showcases experimental music and art. The event is a passion of his that some people in this village of 1,700 find odd. This year, an international crowd of about 500 gathered for performances at the cafe, in an old barn and in a nearby church.